Author

Award Date

Degree Type

Degree Name

Department

First Committee Member

Jack Young, Chair

Second Committee Member

Richard Tandy

Third Committee Member

Mack Rubley

Graduate Faculty Representative

Monica Lounsbery

Number of Pages

80

Abstract

Duties of police officers include apprehending suspects, which may involve foot pursuit and firing a weapon at a suspect. Previous studies in biathletes and soldiers suggest that shooting performance is compromised when fatigue is present. Purpose: To investigate the effects of exercise-induced fatigue on shooting performance in police officers. Methods: Nine police officers fired five rapid-fire shots at three targets each with a fifteen second rest period in between each trail. Officers then exercised on a cycle ergometer to 85% maximum heart rate or voluntary fatigue. The pretest shooting was repeated post-exercise. Distances of 4 shots from the center of the target and diameters of tightest 4-shot grouping were measured. Results: No significant differences in distance or diameter were found. Conclusions: Fatiguing exercise had no effect on shooting accuracy or precision in the subject population.